Faith

I am

• a Christian
• a believer in life after death in some capacity
• accepting of evolution, other scientific facts
• certain that these are not contradictory stances
• willing to question
• deserving of respect

I am not

• simple
• stupid
• weak-minded
• gullible
• in need of a crutch

Life Sucks and Then You Die

Congressman Tom Perriello lost his reelection bid. I suppose it was incredibly optimistic of me to even hope we had a chance, after the healthcare vote (because people in the 5th district who don't live in Charlottesville are crazy and don't recognize a good thing when they've got it), but I honestly thought that his willingness to act according to his principles and be honest with his constituents would appeal to moderates and even some conservatives. I guess a little sense in American politics is too much to ask for.


I hate - HATE - that this election will be seen as a repudiation of President Obama's policies. People must really have short memories, or they would remember how awful things were under Bush. Look, economic recovery takes time. And I know, American people, that you're used to getting your way, right away, when you want it, and acting like spoiled children when you don't, but politics doesn't work that way. It is an inherently slow process. And you know what? That's a good thing. And if you think that Republicans are somehow going to get you your jobs faster, you're delusional. They're in the pocket of corporate America, and they certainly don't have the interests of the lower and middle classes at heart. This is the party of tax cuts for the rich and cutting unemployment and welfare benefits for the poor. As much as they claim to care about the little guy, they do absolutely nothing that will help him out.


The thing is, though, if you're willing to buy the Republicans' bullshit, you deserve the ineffective and deadlocked government you will get, with a Republican House (and Speaker Boehner, gag me) and a Democratic Senate, with a Democratic president that will most assuredly veto any remotely conservative legislation. Absolutely nothing will get done in the next two years, and it's your own damn fault, gullible American public. It's called patience. Try it sometime.


I am so unbelievably frustrated right now. Eff this.

Twenty

Thank you, my dear roomie!

Sanity Stories

I'm planning on writing a more extensive recap of my experiences at The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, but to finish off my October project, here are some of the more interesting snippets of the day.

• When we were waiting for a train at the West Falls Church Metro station, some man came up behind me and put his arms around me, thinking I was his significant other. Obviously the mistake was cleared up very quickly, but as my friends pointed out, I was a lot shorter than his actual girlfriend/wife. Which begs the question: was he under the impression I was perhaps the woman he was having an affair with? I shall never know.
• It was Mary Lacy's birthday. When we finally got onto the Metro, our car filled up quickly. We decided it would be a good idea to start singing happy birthday to Mary Lacy in the middle of a packed Metro car - and all the complete strangers around us joined in! We were all full of the excited rally-going spirit, I guess. It was cool.
• When we walked onto the mall, we were handed pamphlets by vegans and peaceful Muslims.
• The one line of the Stewart/Colbert song I heard quite clearly? "Straight men who like Glee."
• We heard that UVa football had won their game as we got back to West Falls Church and started climbing the stairs of the parking garage. We burst out into "The Good Old Song," to the bewilderment of the people using the elevator beside us.

More to come soon. In the meantime, we can dwell on the fact that my 20th birthday begins in less than 5 hours (sort of; I wasn't born until about 3:30 in the afternoon in Kansas City, but November 1 is my birthday all day). And November is NaNo month. Let's see how I do!

Final tally for the October Project: 25/31 days.

I <3 MUSLIN!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

It's only a day away!


I'm staying at Chez Mary Lacy in NoVa. Her parents are gracious hosts, the food is excellent, and the house very pretty. Tomorrow is rally day! I'm enjoying a little Phineas and Ferb before bed and then am anticipating an excellent and fun-filled day.


Time to restore sanity and keep fear alive!

Perriello, the President, and Turning Twenty

My poor liberal heart is about to explode with sadness that I cannot go to the Obama rally on Friday (although I'm still REALLY REALLY SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC EXPIALIDOCIOUSLY EXCITED about this weekend). The entire UDems meeting was about how there are volunteer spots open and there are going to be at least 7000 people at the Pavilion and the president of the United States will be on the downtown mall, stumping for Tom Perriello, the only Congressman he has devoted an entire rally to this election season. Why can't Time Turners be a real thing? Whyyyyy


On the other hand, you should definitely watch Comedy Central tonight. President Obama will be on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 11 PM and Congressman Tom Perriello will be on The Colbert Report at 11:30 PM. 


I will have no life on Tuesday, and may be skipping class for the first time this semester. There goes my perfect attendance record, but it's for a good cause. Perriello '10!


My birthday is on Monday. What is this madness?

See this guy? Go vote for him!

Political Crazy Week

This afternoon at work, I was checking my notifications and received a pleasant (understatement of the century) surprise: President Barack Obama will be visiting Charlottesville to stump for Congressman Tom Perriello this Friday! 


The bad news? I can't be there.


The good news? I can't be there because I'll be on my way up to NoVa with Mary Lacy, and possibly Lauren and Elizabeth, to attend the Rally to Restore Sanity/March to Keep Fear Alive the next morning, followed by what sounds like an absolutely wonderful weekend at Mary Lacy's house.


(I still really wish I could see the president, though, because he is one of my heroes and I have never seen him in person before. It's the tragedy of having lived in The Middle of Nowhere El Centro, California in 2008. Why does a Democrat need to go to California in an election year? Answer: He doesn't. And he certainly wouldn't waste his time in the Imperial Valley if he did.)


Still, this is Virginia. The president won the commonwealth, with its thirteen electoral votes, by 6.29% in 2008. It was the first time it had gone for a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. I'm guessing President Obama wants to try to hold on to Virginia in 2012, and he should definitely come by Charlottesville at some point that fall. Michelle Obama campaigned right down the hill from my dorm in September 2008, and I'm pretty sure her husband was in Cville and/or Albemarle on multiple occasions. This Friday will not be his last visit here, I'm quite sure.


And anyway, how many times are Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert going to be having rallies on the Mall, conveniently located just two hours from me? When am I going to have this opportunity again? Never, clearly. And while I still get starry-eyed over the president, I won't pretend some of his decisions haven't really bothered me. Mostly because I don't think he's been liberal enough, or he hasn't done enough to discontinue insane Bush policies. But hey, I'm practically a socialist (only half joking), so I fully admit that my own expectations are probably markedly different from that of the average American. What I'm trying to say is that while President Obama has sometimes disappointed me, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rarely, if ever, do. They are satirical love.


Speaking of Jon and Stephen, tomorrow will also be a banner day for Democratic politics and their shows, because President Obama will be on The Daily Show and Congressman Perriello will be on The Colbert Report. I'm super excited for the watch party on the Corner! There's nothing like watching your favorite political figures with your favorite University Democrats by your side.


So, awesome day tomorrow, plenty of GOTV as the week goes on, and the Rally/March on Saturday. I really cannot think of a more perfect way to spend my time. Not to mention Wesleyanos are amazing, and this weekend at Chez Mary Lacy should be bomb. Here's to a birthday week for the record books!